he was recommended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'he was recommended' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who has been encouraged to do something or given an endorsement. For example, "My friend was recommended to me as a great babysitter, so I hired her."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

He was recommended for promotion to major on February 2 , 1945 but this recommendation was disapproved on July 17 of that year.

Wikipedia

He was recommended to me.

The Guardian - Music

He was recommended for a special school; it never happened.

The Guardian

As the war in Europe wound down, he was recommended for the art recovery team.

The New York Times - Arts

He was recommended for "American Beauty," he said, by Tom Cruise.

The New York Times

He was recommended Inception because one of his friends Google +1ed it.

The Guardian - Tech

"He was recommended for and received commutation of his original sentence from 1990," the statement said.

The New York Times

He was recommended for a medal after that day when we evacuated the soldiers under fire.

Independent

He was recommended by tribal elders from the Zadran tribe, said Paktia's governor, Juma Khan Hamdard.

The New York Times

He was recommended a local home by a friend, and was relieved to find it had a room free.

The Guardian

"He was recommended from down below," said Torre, after the game, meaning that the Yankee scouts tapped ol' Doc.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he was recommended", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the recommendation and what the recommendation was for. This adds clarity and credibility to the statement.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice with "he was recommended". Instead of saying "he was recommended by a friend", consider using the active voice: "A friend recommended him". This often makes the sentence more direct and engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was recommended" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received a recommendation from an unspecified agent. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Many Ludwig examples highlight the passive reception of the recommendation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was recommended" is a grammatically sound and common passive voice construction used to convey that someone received a suggestion or endorsement. According to Ludwig AI, it is perfectly acceptable for use in writing. It appears frequently in news and media, wiki, and scientific contexts, maintaining a neutral register. While alternatives exist, such as "someone suggested him" or "he received a recommendation", the original phrase remains a clear and effective way to communicate the act of recommending someone. When writing, it's important to ensure clarity by specifying who made the recommendation and for what purpose, avoiding overuse of the passive voice for more engaging and direct writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he received a recommendation

Uses a noun form to express the act of receiving a recommendation.

someone suggested him

Focuses on the action of suggesting rather than a formal recommendation.

he came highly suggested

Implies a strong positive suggestion, emphasizing the degree of support.

he was endorsed

Replaces 'recommended' with a synonym that suggests formal approval.

they put him forward

Indicates the action of nominating or proposing someone.

he was put up for

Emphasizes the act of presenting someone for consideration.

he was nominated

Suggests a formal process of selection for a role or award.

he was proposed

Indicates someone suggested his candidacy or suitability.

he was advocated for

Suggests active support and promotion of someone's candidacy.

he was supported

Indicates backing or approval without specifying a formal recommendation.

FAQs

How can I use "he was recommended" in a sentence?

You can use "he was recommended" to indicate that someone suggested or endorsed a person for a particular role, task, or service. For example, "He was recommended for the job by his previous supervisor".

What's a more active way to say "he was recommended"?

Instead of the passive "he was recommended", you can use the active voice by saying "Someone recommended him" or "He came highly suggested".

Is it always necessary to specify who recommended someone?

While not always required, specifying who recommended someone adds credibility and context. For instance, saying "he was recommended by a friend" is more informative than simply saying "he was recommended".

What are some alternatives to "he was recommended" in formal writing?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "he received a recommendation" or "he was endorsed" instead of "he was recommended" to convey a more professional tone.